Curling and Tripping Hazard
When damage sustained over the years has made the edges curl up, and tiles or mats no longer adhere to the floor, you know it is time to change the floor. Not changing it would come with the risk of tripping over the edge, Tripping in the gym, especially if you are carrying weights, can be a significant health hazard and can result in substantial injuries.
Sometimes from heavy use, the corners might start to break off or the floor has changed color – telltale signs that you need to change the weight-lifting flooring. If it used to black and is now light grey, it is a bit too old.
Damage
Obviously, when a floor shows any signs of damage, whether holes or tearing or curling, you know it is time for a new surface.
Sometimes the powerlifting floor sitting on top might be fine, but the one underneath has endured damage and is beginning to cause problems. Say, for example, you have a rubber floor sitting on top of a wooden platform. The rubber floor was not installed properly around a fountain and water has slowly made its way to the wood below. The top surface may look just fine, but you still have a problem and must replace the wood. A visual tell is if your top surface has started to bubble, a sure sign you know you have an issue on your hands. Water can cause all sorts of nasty problems starting with mold, which can also be a health hazard and must be avoided at any cost.
The thing is that these floors can take a lot of damage and last a very long time, so if any of these visual cues are present, you are probably looking at a very beaten down floor. Of course, the higher the traffic and the more violent the physical abuse endured by the floor, the shorter its life will be. Overall, these surfaces are made to take on a lot of damage. They should hold well even after many years.
It’s Obsolete
Something to keep in mind is that technology has advanced tremendously in the last few decades and a gym that has a 10 to 20-year-old Olympic floor is just not offering the best. New floors provide support and protection as well as an anti-bacterial surface, making the gym smell and look better. They are easy to clean and maintain and can stand up to a lot more damage than their old counterparts.
Activity Change
Another reason it may be time for a change in your flooring is that the type of activity taking place in your gym has changed. As it happens with time, trends have changed, now we have a massive interest in disciplines like CrossFit that make use of weights and have many repetitions in their sets. If you made your gym to fit a different type of workout and are now finding that you need more support and better protection, it may be time to update to thicker rubber flooring.
Looking to Upgrade Your Fitness Flooring? Specialized Fitness Resources Is Here to Help
Whether upgrading your fitness flooring or building your home gym from scratch, Specialized Fitness Resources will help you make the best decisions. To request a quote, contact us today at 305-752-0451.